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Bama's McCarron has impressive arsenal at his command

By Aaron Suttles | Halifax Media Group

Published: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 05:48 PM.

HOOVER, Ala. | AJ McCarron is in a good spot.

He’s not the highest-profile quarterback in the conference. That title goes to Johnny Manziel of Johnny Football fame at Texas A&M. McCarron’s a Southeastern Conference star, no doubt, but he’s not being critiqued and obsessed to the level of Manziel, who seems to make headlines wherever he goes.

McCarron is only the quarterback set to start his third season, with two national championship rings and a beauty pageant girlfriend.

Let Manziel have the fame. McCarron wants another title. And with a stockpile of weapons at his disposal, who exactly is betting against him?

“I know everybody’s going to be targeting for us,” McCarron said. “Everybody’s going to come out and bring their A-game against us. I don’t really try to bring any more pressure on myself by thinking too much about it.”

Alabama’s returns 2,799 of its 3,052 receiving yards from a year ago, including Amari Cooper, who led the team with 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Then there’s Kevin Norwood, Christion Jones, Kenny Bell and DeAndrew White.

Not enough? Throw in some talented youngsters, not to mention the rushing attack, and McCarron might be licking his chops come game one.

He’s not the highest-profile quarterback in the conference. That title goes to Johnny Manziel of Johnny Football fame at Texas A&M. McCarron’s a Southeastern Conference star, no doubt, but he’s not being critiqued and obsessed to the level of Manziel, who seems to make headlines wherever he goes.

McCarron is only the quarterback set to start his third season, with two national championship rings and a beauty pageant girlfriend.

Let Manziel have the fame. McCarron wants another title. And with a stockpile of weapons at his disposal, who exactly is betting against him?

“I know everybody’s going to be targeting for us,” McCarron said. “Everybody’s going to come out and bring their A-game against us. I don’t really try to bring any more pressure on myself by thinking too much about it.”

Alabama’s returns 2,799 of its 3,052 receiving yards from a year ago, including Amari Cooper, who led the team with 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. Then there’s Kevin Norwood, Christion Jones, Kenny Bell and DeAndrew White.

Not enough? Throw in some talented youngsters, not to mention the rushing attack, and McCarron might be licking his chops come game one.

“We’ve got great receivers out wide all the way around, and we’ve got a whole lot of running backs,” McCarron said. “We’re going to be fine. All I can say is sit back and watch us and hopefully we’ll be fun to watch this year.

“O.J. (Howard’s) been great. Raheem Falkins has been unbelievable. He’s been snagging the ball. I mean, you throw it anywhere in his area and he’s going up and getting the ball. He’s got really strong hands, for a younger kid, in traffic.”

McCarron threw for 2,933 yards in 2012 and that total could increase this season. That mentions nothing of efficiency, although his 30-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio speaks volumes But he’s not the same quarterback he was in 2011 or 2012. Besides his play on the field, he’s a different person in the huddle, on the practice field and in team meetings.

“I know when we first came here, we were both quiet guys,” right guard Anthony Steen said. “I still am, but he’ll get up in front of everyone and speak his mind. He’ll go in a team room and speak to the guys, and I respect that.”

He’s the highest profile athlete on the Crimson Tide roster — a famous girlfriend and penchant for wearing bow ties will do that — which might help him should his name end up in the Heisman discussion late in the season. It’s something he’s allowed himself to think about, but not an overriding forsake-all-else goal.

“I’d be lying to say no that I’ve never thought of the Heisman,” McCarron said. “It’s always been a dream of mine, but at the same time I’m not going to let my personal goals come in the way of our team goals.”

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